At my age if someone hears that I like to watch Spongebob I occasionally hear "Aren't you a little too old for that"? Or the classic line "You're an adult you should put away childish things". Sometimes you just have to say you're only as old as you feel or age is nothing but a state of mind. The simple fact is sometimes even adults hate adulting. I admit it adulting sucks, but it has to be done. However us adults still enjoy cartoons at times. I admit I still have my favorites even now. But why do we adults still enjoy cartoons? Well, here's a few reasons.
It's an escape from the harshness of reality
Think about it. Do we really want to always hear about the Trump Vs Hillary election, or about the Kardashians and Jenners? No we don't. News and celebrity gossip is often so depressing. Sometimes when we get home from work I might want to enjoy The Simpsons, Family Guy, Spongebob, Fairly Oddparents, or Loud House rather than watch CNN or Entertainment Tonight. Cartoons often do mock the news and celebrity culture, but not in a way that it actually makes any direct refrences to any real life persons. Most cartoons also do not discuss religion which eases tensions for people to enjoy.
Sometimes we watch them for the nostalgia
Twenty years ago I can agree cartoons were better. Rugrats was the top cartoon, Powerpuff Girls was better than the newer reboot, Simpsons was also still fresh as well. Watching the classics make us feel a nostalgia of life when we were growing up. Nowdays with channels like Boomerang, The Splat, and online channels like Netflix and Hulu we can rewatch the cartoons of our youth. Shows like Animaniacs, Powerpuff Girls, and others from the 90's are also readily available for younger viewers to experience what my age group did at their age.
Sometimes we watch them with our children, Nieces, Nephews, Cousins etc...
What better way to enjoy the magic of animation than to watch a cartoon or animated movie with your youngest realitives. Something about hearing it from a childs point of view make them magical and enjoyable. Most children do find toilet humor funny. Most children also will laugh at slapstick violence. The truth is childrens pov make cartoons what they are. Pretty much they are just animated sitcoms.
There is also Anime and Manga. They are pretty much cartoons as well. Maybe more adult oriented and action packed than western animation, but nonetheless its all animated. Adult cartoons like: Family guy, Bob's Burgers, King of the Hill,Futurama, Archer, Simpsons etc... gain teenage viewers too. So why can't adults enjoy mild cartoons some if kids and teens can watch Family Guy or Beavis and Butthead even if the teens do it seceretly sometimes. Even the more recently released Pokemon go has rekindled interest in the Pokemon cartoons in the millenial generation. So the more important question is: Why not enjoy cartoons even as an adult? Even adults are Disney addicts. Adulting sucks, but a temporary escape can sometimes be all we need. For all the teenagers who want to be adults, please don't be in a hurry to grow up. It's not as always as fun as you think.
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